Charter

Charter, document conferring rights or privileges on an individual or a group of people. The term originally applied to a written conveyance of land titles, often between private parties. In this sense the word now used is “deed”. The term “charter” is used to describe a grant of land or special privileges by the state, or a solemn guarantee by the sovereign of popular rights. Magna Carta, or Great Charter, issued by King John of England in 1215, is one of the primary constitutional documents of Britain, where the privileges of towns, universities, schools, banks, and joint-stock companies were often derived from royal charters. Now, however, parliamentary sanction is generally obtained for grants of important privileges. In the case of companies, Parliament has passed a general act governing the procedure for incorporation. By complying with the provisions, anybody can obtain the privileges of incorporation.

In Britain, a royal charter is still the means of establishing certain corporations, such as universities and colleges. It is granted by the ruling monarch on the advice of the Privy Council, and is often subject to Parliament’s approval.

In the 1990s the British Conservative government set up a series of Citizen's Charters. These set standards for public services that users could expect the services to achieve. In the main, however, they had no legal force and provided only guidelines.